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House hearings on ACA repeal bill quickly turn acrimonious

Modern Healthcare: House Republicans Wednesday began their race to pass a bill repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, but Democrats tried to trip them up from the start.

Democrats on the two committees marking up the proposed American Health Care Act did everything they could to block the bill's advance until the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office scores it on cost and coverage impact, which is expected sometime next week. They also pressed Republicans on why they are trying to ram the bill through with no hearings or expert witnesses, unlike the extensive hearing process preceding passage of the ACA.

Democrats stressed the likelihood that the bill's reduced premium tax credits and Medicaid spending cuts would increase the nation's uninsured rate, drive up uncompensated care and cause hospitals to lay off workers.

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